Quarter-century of happiness

SHE was one of the first people in twenty-five years ago and Norah Hopwood is still going strong at Rosebank Village in Sebastopol.

Just turned 91, Mrs Hopwood puts her ongoing high-quality of life down to safety she feels in her home.

“There’s always something to go to,” she said. “It’s so alive, it’s so happy, but most of all it’s so safe. It’s a beautiful place to come and live.”

Despite some trepidation when she first moved in a quarter of a century ago, Mrs Hopwood said thing came good pretty quickly

“I found it a bit hard because I sort of felt I should have had more money, but as I went along I got used to it and now I wouldn’t leave here for all the tea in China,” she said.

“It’s safe, it’s happy, there’s always somewhere to go, something to do and a lot more.”

Mrs Hopwood grew up on a farm at the top of Mt Buninyong before marrying and moving to Gordon to raise a family.

She’s also worked in the hospitality, healthcare and customer service industries.

“I loved working,” she said. “Every job I got I worked at for money and independence.”

Mrs Hopwood’s also a mother, a grandmother and great-grandmother, with a new addition to her to her family due very soon.

“I’m hoping it comes on my birthday,” she said with a glowing smile.

Now a days Mrs Hopwood is slowing down, but not by much.

Her full life includes catching up with friends and other residents at the monthly roast dinners or tea and scone events.

“I still keep as busy as I can but I have to be careful I don’t fall, I fall pretty easy,” Mrs Hopwood said.

“We’ve got a concert on today, so there’s always something to go to.”

In 25 years at Rosebank Village Mrs Hopwood has experienced some change as residents have become more self-sufficient but she said some important things remained the same.

“We do a little bit more now but that’s good for us anyway,” she said. “But the happiness of it hasn’t changed. You’d always be happy here, no way has that changed.”